2019 Ford Explorer vs 2019 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2019 Ford Explorer | 2019 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 294 | 480 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 134 | 162 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 54,136 mi | 13,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 35 | 194 |
| Structure | 148 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 14 | 86 |
| Engine | 19 | 69 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 56 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 18 |
| Steering | 9 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 9 |
| Stalling | 15 | 62 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 5 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 43 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 26 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 25 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 8 |
2019 Ford Explorer
2019 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.